November 16, 2000 | Read Time: 1 minute
Inside the Nonprofit Boardroom
by Charles William Golding and Craig W. Stewart
Many of the Americans who volunteer on nonprofit boards do not fully understand what is expected of them, and need help in order to be more effective, write the authors of this handbook.
Charles William Golding, who has served as a trustee for nonprofit organizations in Oregon, and Craig W. Stewart, executive director of a family foundation in Seattle, wrote the manual to confront the problem and to take the “mystery” out of board participation.
Using illustrations from their own experiences, Mr. Golding and Mr. Stewart define the many responsibilities of board members. Among them: protecting donors’ interests and making sure that the organization follows all the laws that pertain to it.
The authors explain that members of large nonprofit boards typically serve solely as fund raisers, while those on smaller boards are usually more involved in their organization’s day-to-day activities. Financial savvy and belief in the group’s mission, the authors argue, are the qualities most valuable in a board member.
The book lays out “keys to success” for board members, including inquisitiveness and appreciation of the staff; outlines steps to running successful meetings and committees; and offers advice on the proper etiquette for conducting elections of new board members and terminating members’ tenure.
Finally, the authors emphasize that the “ideal board” is one diverse in race, gender, and age.
Profits from the sale of the book will be donated to charities selected by the authors.
Publisher: Documentary Book Publishers, 615 Second Avenue, Suite 260, Seattle, Wash. 98104; (206) 467-4300; docbooks@sasquatchbooks.com; http://www.sasquatchbooks.com; 79 pages; $15.95; I.S.B.N. 0-935503-29-3.
